Transcript
Speaker: Well, good morning everybody. It's good to see you all once again. and yeah, I'm excited to be back up here. It's not often you get two weeks in a row from Josh, is it? Yeah, thank you, Victor, for being willing to share the pulpit one more time with me, and I hope you guys are ready to buckle in, because we're in another doozy of a passage this morning. hope you guys are ready for it. so But if you want to open up your Bibles to Luke chapter 16, that's where we are once again. We're going to be wrapping up this chapter this morning with these final verses. We're going to be looking at verses 19 through 31.
Speaker: But as Victor said, I do hope and pray that you guys have had a wonderful Labor Day weekend, that you guys are getting some rest. And for those of you guys who are off tomorrow, I pray that you will take advantage of that time, especially the students. I know the students are excited to be off tomorrow, right?
Speaker: For the students who are in the room. But, and yeah, and what better way to kick off the Labor Day weekend than with college football? Right? Anybody? I know it's really random, but come on. It's fall, y'all, okay?
Speaker: College football's back. Tennessee won. It's a glorious day. mean, they played ah the high school for the blind, but it's it's fine. But as a Tennessee fan, I will say this. This last thing want to say about college football. I promise. But I am nervous about the season because we played both Texas and Texas A&M this year.
Speaker: And I'm nervous about how it's going to play out when Tennessee beats both of them this year. So... Sorry, had to. I had to. All right. So back to the scriptures, because that's why we're here. Football is fun, but the gospel is eternal, and it's the most important thing in this life, right?
Speaker: So I'm going to stop and pray. I'm going to pray over the message, and then we will dive in together. so let's pray. Father God, we come before you, and Lord...
Speaker: i would i would be foolish to say that I'm not nervous. Lord, I'm nervous this morning to give this message. I'm nervous to share the word. Not because i don't know the word or that I don't believe in the gospel, but it's just because the the message this morning is going to be one that's going to be hitting the heartstrings of all of us, hopefully. So Lord, I do pray that you go before this time.
Speaker: Lord, that your words will be heard, that it will not be my words, but it be your words. That, Holy Spirit, that you'll go in the before us in this congregation, that you'll prepare our hearts for what we're about to read. And, Lord, I just pray that if there's anyone in this room that has not ever surrendered their life to you, that as a result of this passage this morning, that they will.
Speaker: That they'll see the urgency of the gospel and their need to serve their their life to you as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But Lord, again, you show us grace this morning. Be with us and and and walk through this passage with us. is in Jesus' name we pray. God's people said? Amen. Amen.
Speaker: So, uh, this is going to be a fun passage to walk through everybody. Um, I thought last week was a little bit of a trickier passage, uh, than Jesus. And then jesus and then ah he was like, Hey, we'll check this one out. And then Victor was like, yeah, take it. Uh, so, um,
Speaker: So we're going to dig in. But before we do that, I always like it, like I've said in the past, I always like context. Context is king. And when it comes to reading the scriptures, right? I want to reemphasize that because even, minute like I said last week, there's so many people out there who take the scriptures and they take it out of context.
Speaker: to to fit their desire, their agenda, their their personal opinion. And that's not how we're supposed to interact with the scriptures. we're We're supposed to allow the scriptures to lead us and guide us and usher us into the truth of God, right? As we encounter each day goes by. so But specifically within chapter 16, we've seen this dialogue between Jesus and his religious leaders, the Pharisees, and then ah Jesus' disciples are also listening in. But specifically, Jesus is addressing these Pharisees, these religious leaders. And we saw last week and over the last previous weeks,
Speaker: that this theme that's woven throughout this chapter deals with the heart condition of the Pharisees. And and that particular heart condition is their spiritual allegiance to the truth.
Speaker: And then more specifically, is a spiritual allegiance to stewardship. You see, the Pharisees were these religious leaders who... who prided themselves on on being the keepers of the law and and leading the people into the truth and walking a holy and righteous life, but yet they themselves were taking that very truth and they were twisting it and adding to it and making it convenient for their own being and for their own presence.
Speaker: And we saw that not only last week, but we saw it in the previous weeks with verses 1 through 13 with the parable of the shrewd manager. You see, Jesus saw the true heart condition of these Pharisees and he used that parable as an illustration to them of, hey, you are mishandling the the things which God has given you.
Speaker: If y'all remember with me how that parable went, it was about this manager who's being let go by his master. And in in light of his his unemployment, he goes and he deals shrewdly with all the the those who owed money, those who had debt.
Speaker: And he went, he methodically went through, he's like, hey, how much did you owe? Okay, now you take this, I want you to cut it in half, i just want you to pay this. and just And the whole time he was doing this time and time again, but after every time he was like, but hey, remember me.
Speaker: Right. And you think that through that parable that ah the master would see the the manager and be like, dude, what are you doing? How are you? How I just let I'm letting you go. and Now you're going to take advantage of me. Like, what are you doing? But y'all remember how the manager or the master responded to the manager?
Speaker: He commended them. on his shrewdness. He was like, hey, you you saw the situation, yet you took advantage of it so that way you could set yourself up for the things to come.
Speaker: And so he went and he dealt shrewdly with those who owed debt. And then along the way, he also built a rapport with them and a relationship with them. He said, remember me yeah because I just relieved your debt. right?
Speaker: And so Jesus used this parable to communicate to the Pharisees like, hey, you need to take advantage of the time that you have now to be a good steward of the things that you have. Rather than holding things over the people's heads, you need to be gracious to them and love them as i have been gracious and kind and loving to you.
Speaker: You need to steward not only just their their possessions, but also their relationship with them. you You are not handling them with the care and love and kindness that I have called you to handle them. Y'all see that in those in those verses?
Speaker: Well, it doesn't stop there. In verses 14 through 17, Jesus then continues on and he reveals the money-loving hearts of the Pharisees as if like he didn't already reveal it previously.
Speaker: um and how it impaired the their the Pharisees' ability to faithfully uphold the law properly and to lead the people. So Jesus is really striking to the heart of the Pharisees here. And I pray that as we've walked through these verses, that it's been piercing our own hearts.
Speaker: Because a lot of us, myself included, this is not i'm not outside of this, we like to walk around and carry ourselves high and mighty as if like nothing's wrong and as if like we we we we steward things the way that we're supposed to.
Speaker: but the reality is that a lot of us in this room, we're no different than the Pharisees.
Speaker: And again, I say that with great humility because I know for a fact that I am no better than the Pharisees at times. I see how i how I treat people in the grocery store when the line is 20 people long and the person up front is taking forever. and i'm just like, dude, seriously, come on.
Speaker: I just got a like a ah bottle of creamer here, okay? like or Or how I even treat my family at times. right? we How we choose to steward things here on this side of of heaven ultimately communicates the heart and where our heart posture is before the presence of the Lord. And that's what Jesus is calling out in these Pharisees, those who were supposed to be shepherding and leading the people into truth rather than burdening the people with the law that they added onto it.
Speaker: And so, and then last week, obviously, we looked at that single verse of verse 18, and it went even further with how the Pharisees even took it to their own advantage to ah um to take advantage of the certificate of divorce for their own advantage.
Speaker: The most sacred covenant that the Lord has given us as humanity is the relationship, this this covenant of marriage, but yet they're even using it for their own advantage. So again, this is a very sobering chapter.
Speaker: And I'll admit, I've read through this chapter many times in my life, and it's never been as heart-stinging as it is now.
Speaker: Because of how revealing it is to me, especially now that as ah I get older. I know I'm only 36, but I do have no hair, so it kind of qualifies me as older. um And now that I'm a father, and like the realities are sinking in, right? Right?
Speaker: So the reason why I pray that as we've gone through this, that these things are also the truth for you. And Jesus this morning, though, as we look at verses 19 through 31, he then draws all this to a conclusion within this particular dialogue by bringing home this climactic conclusion of revealing to them what will ultimately happen to them and any individual who continues to walk in the manner in which they're walking and with this heart condition.
Speaker: And as I prayed earlier, this is a very sobering passage that we're about to read. Because it deals with the eternal stance which you have before the Lord. ah It deals with your your your eternal position after you die.
Speaker: Are you going to be counted righteous because of the blood of Christ and because of how you handled the law and how you are handled i say handled all handled the truth and how you handled the things in which the Lord has stewarded you here now?
Speaker: Are you going be able to go to stand before the Lord and hear those words, well done, my good and faithful servant? Or are you going to be eternally separated from the presence of the Father because you did not heed his warnings and take care of his of the truth, which he's commanded us to do right here, right now, while we still have life in this in this world, right?
Speaker: So we're gonna read through these verses and then we're gonna pull four reality checks, four reality checks that I that really hope and pray that we will consider this morning. The first one that i we're gonna see is verses 19 through 21 and we're gonna see the contrast of comforts between this these two people of the rich man and and Lazarus.
Speaker: We're gonna see consequences of choices. Three, we're gonna a chasm of compassion and four, a cry for change. And so as we read through this, keep these four points in mind, these reality checks, so that way it'll set us up as we walk through them. So if you guys don't mind standing with me as we read God's word, that'd be great if you're able.
Speaker: We'll pick up in verse 19. Verse 19. It says this, There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and who feasted some some... Sumptuously, that's a fun word, every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.
Speaker: Moreover, even the dogs came and lit his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, but being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am in anguish in this flame.
Speaker: But Abraham said, child, Remember that in your lifetime, that you in your lifetime received your good things. And Lazarus, in like manner, bad things.
Speaker: But now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you, a great chasm has been fixed in order that those who and those who would pass from here to you may not be able.
Speaker: And none may cross from there to us. And he said... talking about the rich man, then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house.
Speaker: For I have five brothers so that he may warn them lest they also come into the place of torment. But Abraham said, listen to this, they have Moses and the prophets.
Speaker: Let them hear them. And he said, no, Father Ingram, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. He said to them, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced of someone if someone should rise from the dead.
Speaker: Lord, we come before you. And Lord, again, as I mentioned, this is a very ah sobering and and hard passage to read, especially for anybody who does not have a relationship with you.
Speaker: So Lord, I pray that this morning that you truly will navigate this dialogue, that you truly will navigate this passage and allow us to pull the truths out from it and allow it to penetrate our hearts and how we must handle the time that we have now while we still breath in our lungs when it comes to the eternal stance in which we have before you.
Speaker: But God, we love you. We praise you. We thank you for your love for us. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Y'all may be seated.
Speaker: So the first thing that I want us to see here, this first reality check, right? When it comes to the unseen impact in this life and how we live and how we handle and steward the things which God has given us is the contrast of comforts.
Speaker: Right? and the first And right off the bat, Jesus says that there was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day. So this rich man being clothed in purple represents comfort, wealth, and status. For purple dye at the time was only accessible by those who have means to achieve it and to and to purchase it. and So the rich, the wealthy, those of high status,
Speaker: He not only had fine purple, but he also feasted sumptuously, meaning that he had plenty of food. And most likely it meant that he often had daily banquets and parties and he was living the high life. And then he goes on and says that he had enough food that he was able to just waste it.
Speaker: He didn't even do it anyway. He just wasted it. Most likely, as we saw there in the verses later on, it says that there was these dogs that would come up to Lazarus and lick his swords. Those dogs probably hit the crumbs off the stable.
Speaker: Right? So you have this rich man who had everything in this life. But yet, how did he act?
Speaker: Carelessly. with now Without stewardship, right? Then the second man that's introduced into this story here is this poor man named Lazarus. Isn't it funny, though, how Jesus names his name?
Speaker: The rich man doesn't have a name, but yet the poor man, his name is Lazarus. meaning that there is ah there's this is signifying importance of who Lazarus was. So in the sense of spiritually. So his name was Lazarus. He was covered with sores, desired to be fed, what fell from the rich man's table. And then moreover, his sores were so bad that these dogs would come and lick his sores.
Speaker: So you have quite the contrast here between these two people that Jesus is is is describing here. And again, think of context here. Why is Jesus using these two examples?
Speaker: Who is he addressing? The Pharisees who had everything. Who were abusing the law for their own convenience.
Speaker: And as a result of that, what was it doing to the people? It was burdening them. It was burdening them. So Lazarus represents the religious leaders, or sorry, the the rich man, sorry, the rich man represents the religious leaders while Lazarus represents the common people, the people that were being burdened by these leaders.
Speaker: And as a result of this, y'all see how it plays out between them. So the rich man, he may have everything, but yet when it comes time for the Lord to call him home, what happens?
Speaker: He's eternally separated from him. Whereas the poor man, Lazarus, ironically, where's he go? He goes before the Lord. He goes to Abraham's side.
Speaker: Isn't it funny how the tables have turned here? this This in and itself is a sermon right here. We could just stick on these points right here and it would be sufficient. And how we choose to live our lives right here, right now and steward the things which God has given us.
Speaker: But we will continue on. But what I do want us to see here, some takeaways, is that the the sin in which the rich man is walking in, I want youa to hear me say this, does not lie within his wealth.
Speaker: Okay. Just because a person is wealthy does not mean they're being sinful or that they're not being a good steward or that they're or that they're taking advantage of somebody. Right. The Lord blesses those who walk faithfully and who bless him.
Speaker: It's the reality of it. But if you all remember in 1 Timothy 6.10, it says, for the love of money is a root. is the root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from their faith and pierced himself with many pains. So the sin at which the rich man is walking is not because of his wealth or an act of cruelty.
Speaker: It's his sin of omission. It's a sin of neglect. He's not being a good steward to those around him. He has everything and more that he ever needs in this life, but yet he is neglecting the one man who chooses to sit outside of his gate every single day. Y'all realize that he probably knew Lazarus.
Speaker: good if Again, if you read on, y'all remember when he's in Hades, he looks up and sees Abraham. He cries out to Abraham. And what does he say? He says, send who? Lazarus. So he recognizes him.
Speaker: He sees him. He says, Lord, send Lazarus to me. Allow him to dip his finger in water to quench this flame that I'm in. are I'm in anguish. But yet, when Lazarus was on earth, when they were still alive, how did the rich man treat him?
Speaker: Passively. He didn't give him the time of day. Now, this is a really sobering reality check for all of us. And again, this is not me saying that you need to go out and help every single homeless person on the streets. Now, if the Lord lays it on your heart, praise God, go do that, right?
Speaker: But we do have to be mindful of those who are around us. We have to be mindful not only those who are ah who are homeless, but also those who are in need, whether it's in our own families, in our community, or or wherever.
Speaker: I love the fact that we are a church who gives and or not only nationally, but internationally. Well, I love the fact that we are such a giving church because it speaks to the heart of how you guys want to steward the things which God has given you and us, right?
Speaker: And so there's a really, really cool example here First Baptist with that. but with him But the sobering reality though is that this needs to be a daily reminder to us that we need to check our heart conditions with how we truly interact with those around us.
Speaker: Because the Lord brings opportunities before us every single day. And there's gonna be a day where we will be held accountable to these opportunities of whether we walked with faithfulness And being a good steward with those opportunities. And and whether it's helping those who are in need or even sharing the gospel, bringing those who don't know the gospel truth to the gospel truth.
Speaker: Or you're going to be judged according to your omission, to your laziness, to your lack of stewardship. are y'all Would y'all be ready for that?
Speaker: I'm not. I'm just going to be real. That's a scary reality check for me. Because i we encounter so many people every single day, and I don't want to miss the opportunity of being a beacon of light and of hope of the gospel to those around me. That's the calling that we have as believers, as disciples, right?
Speaker: Go and what? Make disciples of all nations. Well, how do you make disciples? you Go and share the gospel truth.
Speaker: And so again, his sin is not found in his wealth or an act of cruelty, but rather in his omission. And again, this parallels the behaviors of the Pharisees. They they were so focused on themselves and their own greed and their own desires and conveniences that they were missing what they were doing to the the the Jewish people at that time.
Speaker: I'll bring this point up. I was debating on if I wanted to share this stuff, but I'll share it. So to try to give a ah little bit of benefit of the doubt to the religious leaders, the Pharisees, which this is not a good justification, what I'm about to say, but their realm of thinking, and this is how a lot of us walk, their realm of thinking is, is that those who have a lot, those who have many possessions are blessed by God and they are worthy of it.
Speaker: Whereas those who do not have things, those who are poor, those who don't have a lot, those who are sick, they deserve what they have because they are not as good. That is their thought perspective.
Speaker: And that is not a healthy thought perspective. And if that's you in this room today, I pray that you will surrender that to the Lord, that you will truly humble yourself. And recognize that we are no greater than the brother or sister who is out there who is in need.
Speaker: All of us are spiritually broken, deprived, and we are in desperate need of a Savior. Every single one of us. And so I pray that this reality check will come into perspective for us.
Speaker: And again, Scripture does not affirm this mindset of the Pharisees. It does not affirm the fact that for those who do have a lot that they're blessed and those who don't have anything or who are lacking or unworthy or find displeasure in God. Scripture actually teaches, if y'all recall back in the Beatitudes, back in Matthew chapter 5, verses 2 through 12, listen to these words and how Jesus describes those who are truly blessed. Y'all ready?
Speaker: blessed is are Blessed are the poor in spirit. Right off the bat. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers.
Speaker: And bless there are those are blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Does anywhere in that in those Beatitudes they say anything about blessed are those who have a lot?
Speaker: Or blessed are those who are of high status?
Speaker: No. All those positions are low positions. You see, we as believers in Jesus, this is one of the beautiful things about Christianity.
Speaker: We have the greatest gift to receive in Christianity with the gospel truth because we have the highest inheritance that we'll ever receive out of anything else in this world. However, in order to receive that highest inheritance, what do you have to do?
Speaker: Humble yourself. submit yourself to the lordship of Jesus and walk humbly as he did while he was here on earth. There is no other world religion like this.
Speaker: It's absolutely incredible. And so I pray that that this will sink into us and that we will remember that it's not about possessions. It's not about money. It's not about fame. It's not about status. It's not about any of these things, but rather it's all about the heart condition of humility and being good stewards of the things that we have now.
Speaker: The time that we have now. The relationships that we have now. Are y'all ready to do that? Because if you want the kingdom of heaven to come down to earth and if you want that kingdom to advance, this is the standard. This is how we are called to live.
Speaker: Not in pride.
Speaker: So again, what is Jesus trying to communicate with this point? That the kingdom of heaven is for those who humble themselves and align themselves with God, abandoning the worldly desires, expectations, and standards, only to pursue the spiritual blessings and righteousness found in who?
Speaker: Christ Jesus. And that's exactly what Lazarus represents. Spiritually, he represents this embodiment of the Beatitudes that Jesus teaches on.
Speaker: And though he had nothing according to the standards, he had everything needed to enter the kingdom of God. You see, Scripture tells us that even in our best days, our our good works are nothing but filthy rags compared to the glorious riches of Christ, right? Or the glorious riches of God.
Speaker: So the reality is is that even when we do have the best things, that's not sufficient to enter the kingdom. You can be like Lazarus and still be welcomed in.
Speaker: So for those of you who are in the room today and you're having this this internal battle of what it means to surrender your life to Jesus, whether or not you're worthy of his relationship or worthy of receiving the kingdom of God, worthy of the gospel, do not let Satan deceive you and to think that you have to be worthy of it.
Speaker: Because all it means all you have to do is believe in your heart and confess that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead and recognize that you and of yourself cannot save yourself. Jesus is ready to meet you where you're at, to redeem you, to restore you, to heal you, to bring you into his presence for eternity.
Speaker: That's what Lazarus represents here. So if you're in this room and you think you're too far gone, you're not. You're Allow Jesus to meet you where you're at right now and heal you and mend you, bring you, reshape your thoughts. You know, when where with Scripture talks about, Paul talks about later, that for anyone who's in Christ, they're new creation. The old has passed away. The new has come. We are transformed in the renewal of our minds. Allow Jesus to come in. Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your mind to where he reframes your thought perspective.
Speaker: That you are not just some invaluable person living here on earth, just wasting your life. But rather, you are the most valuable, precious thing to God right now, every single one of us. We were created in His image and His likeness.
Speaker: And He desires to know each and every one of us.
Speaker: So again, there's is what we're seeing here is this contrast of... of of um Oh, goodness. Contrast of comforts here. But don't let those comforts persuade you into thinking that you're better than anybody else. The second thing I want us to see here is the consequences of our choices.
Speaker: You see that verses 22 to where it says
Speaker: The poor man died was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man died and was buried in Hades, being in torment. He lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. You see what happens to those who walk in their comforts of this world.
Speaker: with las or with With the rich man, you saw his reward. He received everything here on earth. He lived his best life best life, neglected the things in which he was supposed to steward. And what happens?
Speaker: His reward was eternal separation. in this place called Hades, a literal physical place that is eternal eternally separated from the presence of God. This is not what the movies and what songs talk about where it's like, I want to be down there with all my homeboys, right? Like that's not it.
Speaker: This is an eternal separation of torment, of weeping and gnashing of teeth, of pure anguish. Remember, he cried out, says, Lord, please send Lazarus and loud and put his finger in water to where it would quench this flame.
Speaker: And so the reality is is, the picture we're seeing here is not only just the eternal separation, but the rich man is seeing what is happening in the heavenly thing in the heavenly places. He sees Lazarus. So not only is he eternally separated in this place of torment, but then he's going to anguish over the fact that he missed an opportunity to be where Lazarus is.
Speaker: All because of his own selfishness. Whereas Lazarus, when he died, what happened? Immediately, he got taken to Abraham's side. You see, and we've not to hit on this, or not to beat a dead horse with this, but the reality is that the things of this world do not determine whether or not you are worthy of going into the presence of God.
Speaker: All of us are worthy of and of value to go into the presence of God. And so there is going to be a consequences for our choices here on earth. How are you going to steward the time that we have together? And the third thing I want us to see here, me jump ahead here, is this chasm of compassion. And that we see that here in verses 24 through 26, where after laza or after the rich man sees Lazarus, and he lifts up his eyes and sees Lazarus at Abraham's side.
Speaker: He cries out, he says, Father, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember this. Remember that you in your lifetime received good things.
Speaker: And Lazarus and the man are bad things. But now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. And it goes on, verse 26, very, very sobering, sobering verse. Besides all this, between us and you, a great chasm has been fixed.
Speaker: This isn't something that changes. This isn't something that you can just wish away or or pray over and it' just fix. This is something that is that is fixed in a position, a permanent state.
Speaker: In order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able and none may cross from there to us. There's this permanent chasm that will be fixed between those who are in the presence of God and those who are eternally separated from God.
Speaker: Now, why am i making naming this point a a chasm of compassion? It's because the reality is that we need to understand that while we still have time here on this earth, while we still breath in our lungs and still have the opportunities presented before us, We have an opportunity to bridge that chasm for those who are going to be spending eternity in hell. Does that make sense?
Speaker: Because once their life is taken, that cat that bridge is gone. there's There's no turning back. But while we still have breath in our lungs today, we have an opportunity to help bridge this chasm where those who are currently status of going to hell, the eternal separation from God, we can bring the gospel to them.
Speaker: We can bring Jesus to them. We can bring the truth of the word of God to them and allow them to cross this bridge and to come into the inheritance of the kingdom forevermore. But again, once their life is taken from them, that bridge is no longer there.
Speaker: They're in a fixed position for all eternity. And what a weighty thought that is for us who have been given this mantle of going and making disciples of all nations.
Speaker: But yet we're more worried about our kind our comforts and our conveniences now rather than worrying about where our brothers and sisters are going to spend eternity. We're much more like the rich man where we're all about having the parties and having the status and having the the amenities rather than rather than slowing down just enough to realize, wow, we have a Lazarus outside of our gate.
Speaker: And how are we gonna help him or her?
Speaker: Because slowing it down just enough to recognize that, that can change that person's destiny and a destination for all eternity. So may we stop and slow down enough and reckon and open our eyes, allow the Spirit to open our eyes enough to see the need of the gospel, not only just in our own families.
Speaker: Let's be honest, a lot of us in this room, we have family members who don't know Jesus. We have family members are be spending eternity separated from you. But only just in our families, but in our community and across this nation. We need to be praying for our nation big time right now.
Speaker: Not to get on on that political platform, but We need to be praying for our nation. It is in an utter disarray right now with what truth actually is. So may we be a bridge to these people to where they can understand the truth.
Speaker: And then lastly, this is what I want us to close on is this cry for change. Jesus goes on there at the end of this passage and and moses after her not ah Abraham after he tells us that no one's able to cross this chasm there in verse 27. He said, the this rich man says, then I beg you, Father, send him to my father's house.
Speaker: For have five brothers so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. But Abraham said, they have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.
Speaker: and then he tries one more time, this last ditch effort, if you will. He says, in no, Father Abraham, if but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. Abraham says, he said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.
Speaker: That's an interesting verse because when you think about what Jesus is actually doing right now, where is he heading? To Jerusalem. To be crucified.
Speaker: And what happens after he's crucified? He's He raises from the dead. And he's giving this stern warning to the Pharisees and those who are listening. He's saying, hey, just like this rich man, there's gonna be a time where the opportunity is gonna be missed.
Speaker: And you're gonna do everything in your power to try to to like pick everything back up and to fix it and to and to resolve the situation, but the opportunity is gonna be gone and you're gonna be in a fixed position for all eternity. And there's nothing you can do, not even about yourself, but those whom you left behind.
Speaker: And so while, but rather what Jesus is saying is this, he says, but while you still opportunity, hear the warnings that have gone before you. You have the prophets, you have all those who've gone before you who tried to warn you about your hard heartedness and how you need to submit yourself to the lordship of the father in heaven.
Speaker: But yet you were refusing to do that. He says, do that while you still have time. Because if you can't even hear this, What's the point of of sending somebody back to try to to wake them up? Because the reality is that they were in such a hard state that not even somebody coming back from the dead would be able to awaken them from their spiritual death.
Speaker: And that's exactly what Jesus does. Jesus goes and he dies on the cross. And when he rises from the grave, and what how do these Pharisees respond? In disbelief. And they try to cover it up.
Speaker: They don't believe it. And so this is the point that Jesus is trying to communicate here. He says, hey, you need to address this heart condition before it's too late.
Speaker: You've had ample opportunity to receive this news and to receive the truth. And now that you're, and that and there will be a time where your life will be asked of you and it's gonna be way too late.
Speaker: And that's the reality for a lot of us in this room.
Speaker: We all have, a day where we will stand before a holy and righteous God. Our life will end on this side of heaven and we will enter into eternity. If y'all noticed, one of the things that was reading through within this passage is that when both men die, is there like a flex period?
Speaker: Is there a period of like, oh man, like I'm just gonna go sleep for a little bit and then I'm going to the presence of God or is there a time to fix things? No, it's an immediate presence before the Lord.
Speaker: As soon as your life is demanded of you and asked of you, you're going into the presence of a holy righteous God. There's no purgatory. There's no do-overs. There's nothing like that. And so while we still have time, we need to heed the time that we have to fix the things that are on this side of heaven. and most importantly, the things that we need to fix is our eternal stance before a holy righteous God and our relationship with Jesus.
Speaker: So maybe that's some of you in the room today. Some of you in the room have never truly surrendered your life to Christ. You've been playing the game really well. You've been sitting on the sidelines for a while. But the reality is that you've never truly surrendered your life to Christ. And you need to do that this morning.
Speaker: Because there's going to be a time when you're going to stand before him and he's going to ask, why why are you and why do you deserve to come into my presence?
Speaker: if you try to use the phrase, well, it's because I was a good person or I was blessed abundantly on earth. I had all this money and all these things, but I never had a relationship with you. He's going say, sorry, I never knew you depart from me.
Speaker: But rather, if you go into his presence, he says, why do you ask to come into my kingdom? Because the finished blood of Christ covers my sin. He's worthy. I am not. I don't deserve to be in your presence. I don't deserve anything.
Speaker: I deserve to be eternally separated separated from you, but because of your goodness and your kindness and your love, ascending your son Jesus to be the propitiation of our sin, to be this this price to pay the price for me, that's the only reason how I can even be in for you. And he's going to look at you and say, well done, my good faithful servant. You're welcome in. Come on.
Speaker: So our My question as we wrap up and as we go into this time of invitation is, where are you at? Where do you stand? Are you like the rich man who is wasting the opportunities that the Lord has given you here and now?
Speaker: Or do you find yourself like the the light lazarus humble, lowly in heart, lowly in spirit, allowing the spirit of God to meet you where you're at, to mend your every need and to provide for your every need.
Speaker: I pray that you're not like the rich man, but if you are, I pray that you allow the work they'll allow the Lord to work in your heart today because the things of this world will pass away, but the gift of God the and the the free gift of God of salvation in heaven is eternal.
Speaker: So let me pray over you. And if you need to come down talk to me, I'll be down in front. If not, do business where you're at. Because this is too weighty of and too important of a decision to just push it off.
Speaker: So me pray. Father God, we come before you, Lord. And God, we just humbly just ask that you'll just work in our hearts.
Speaker: Lord, if there's anything in our hearts that we need to reveal to you that is truly holding us back from living a life on mission and on purpose for you. I pray, Father, that you will reveal that to us right now.
Speaker: Lord, some of some of us in this room who have been believers for a long time, maybe we're just, we're we're allowing possessions and and status or money or whatever the case may be to, to, to, uh,
Speaker: cause a fog in our own life and how we view things. I pray, Father, that you will remove that fog, that we'll see clearly how we need to surrender to you. But Lord, I pray for those in this room who who have never surrendered their life to you.
Speaker: Father, they just, that are those who are just clinging to the to the false identity and status of the world. I pray, Father, that you reveal to them your goodness, your faithfulness, and your truth. And how there is a new identity that they can have. And that is only in you. And that as a result of that identity, they can receive this blessed inheritance of eternal life in the kingdom forevermore.
Speaker: God, please work in our hearts. May we be the men and women that you desire us to be to advance the kingdom right here, right now. May we heed the the warning which Jesus is is telling the Pharisees in this passage when it comes to how our heart condition and how we steward the things on this earth.
Speaker: May we humble ourselves and walk faithfully. Given the things that we have, Father, I pray that we will be faithful. But Lord, please, just continue to do a good work. You are not a God who is dead. You're a God who is alive and who is working. And I pray that you work right now in this place, in this community, in this nation, Lord. We surrender it to you.
Speaker: God, we love you. we praise you. We thank you for the way that you first loved us and how you sent your son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. and we pray all these things in his name. Amen.
Speaker: This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.
